Mr. Empson demonstrated that this aim was sheer illusion. We had been taught to ignore the complexities of verbal experience, and the twentieth century having invented non-lineal forms of expression was eager to explore the non-lineal aspects of language and experience. It is this situation which has brought the methods of the 'new criticism', with all their concern in any composition into vogue with the 'total relevance' of word and phrase, much to the chagrin of the true book-men who continue to insist on the 'one plain meaning' coming off the assembly-lines of print.